THE Most Harmful Myth About Your Baby’s Teeth
July 6, 2015
July 6, 2015
If someone says to you, “Baby teeth fall out, so you don’t have to worry about them, right?” You tell them, “Wrong!”
Okay, maybe you don’t want to just shout “Wrong!” at them, but you can tell them that in truth, baby teeth are important to a child’s overall health and wellness. Inadequate care of baby teeth, a.k.a. primary teeth, can leave behind bad effects on a child’s overall health and wellness, even when the teeth are long gone.
Fortunately, caring for baby teeth is as easy as caring for your own.
Prior to teething, use a soft, warm, wet cloth to gently massage your baby’s gums. Once teeth begin to appear, you can brush with a soft toothbrush, but don’t use toothpaste until around age two. Kids can begin learning to brush their teeth around age two or three, but they will need help or supervision typically until age 6 or 7. Finally, you should schedule regular checkups with your child’s dentist, beginning at 12 months of age, or within 6 months from when baby’s first tooth appears.